The Washington critic., 1887-12-10

COlOrS on the canvas. lnev were puitc
an industrious set, and applied them
selves assiduously to their painting,
working very quietly. more SO tnah
could be expected OF thirty lolly slris
under the same roof. Each one seemed
TO be entirely absorbed in her own work,
and all were supremely oblivious of the
presence of q reporter in their midst.
II was pleasant to watch them. One
dcmure damosel was making a copy OF
n popular picture. She did not notice
the reporter watching her. Deity, and
with q touch as light as the football OF q
fairy, she laid on the colors, bringing
ont the lines and hues with good effect.
She would paint awhile, and then bow
ing her shapely head to one side, scrutin-
ize the original and scan the copy with
n critical eye. If it did not suit her, the
cherry lips would purse into a.pout and
the delicate eyebrows arch into frown.
Then when she had made some particu-
larly pleasing effect, she would lean
back and glance at it with evident salts
faction and smile softly to herself.
Another was seated disconsolately be-
fore half-fnished copy, gazing at it
with despairing look. 1t was really u
good copy, but it evidently did not suit
her ideas and she seemed on the point
of giving it up. When the reporter
strolled past there some minutes later
she seemed to have been seized with u
new inspiration and was working away
cheerily.
Down stairs, in the room devoted to
the statuary,, another bevy Of bright
eyed maidens were at work. They
were drawing, taking the marble and
plaster figures as models. This was
more difficult than copying pictures.
The lights and shades were natural eff
fects to be reproduced. Some of the
young artists were laboriously sketch
ing their outlines with pencil, others
rapidly filling in heavy black shades
with the crayon, and others with crayon
and rubber, delicately picking out the
fine lights and shades.
"The pupils in here" said Mr.. An
drews, the well-known artist who over
looks the work of the young aspirants
for artistic fame, "are members of II
regular class, drawing class, which was
formed in September. 1t gives in
struction and practice free of charge to
limited number of students. They
were selected according to the superior
merit of their drawings over n large
number handed in for inspection when
application was made for admission.
"We require each applicant TO furnish
specimen of her work, and if it does
not come up to certain degree Of excel
ence she is not admitted. We do not
teach the elementary principles of
drawing. This is n tinishing-oif class for
advanced pupils. There is some fine
talent in this class, and some of those
here will be heard Of in the artistic
world"
"Do you-have many applications for
admission to the class?"
"Oh, yes. A great many more than
we have room for or could teach. Our
drawing class consists of about thirty
members, part of whom come alternate
days, as could not look after the whole
class on the same day."
"How about those upstairs copy
ing the paintings; do these form {
class?"
"Oh, no." replied the artist, with {
shrug of the shoulders, leading the way
upstairs to the main salon, II do no
recognize person engaged in copying ;
picture rs studying art. 1t does not show
any particular talent in being able t.
cory a picture. While there is talen
among the artists here they could no
properly be considered MS pupils. The,
are either copying the pictures orthei
own parlors or to sell them. There hav
been some fine reproductions made o
some of the noted paintings which hay
been sold at good figures"
''Do you allow any one TO make cop
of these paintings?"
"Well, they must first show speci
men of their work. They must sho,
some indication Of possessing talent
Then, when they have finished the pie
turc, it is laid before the committee fo
approval before il leaves the gallery
Vi never allow any but creditable piece
uf work to 80 out.